In the 1970s and 80s, Northrop Frye and Jay Macpherson co-taught a very influential course at the University of Toronto's Victoria College on the history of Western mythology—Frye focusing on the biblical myths; Macpherson on the classical. Biblical and Classical Myths recreates the thought behind that course, with Frye's lectures—unpublished until very recently—supplemented by Macpherson's popular 1962 textbook on classical mythology, Four Ages: The Classical Myths.

Frye's lectures on the Bible make up the first half of the book. He expounds on an array of topics, including translations of the bible, sexual imagery, pastoral and agricultural imagery, and law and revolution in the bible. Four Ages makes up the second half. Macpherson narrates the major classical myths from stories of creation to the myths' survival in later European traditions.

By complementing the biblical tradition with the classical, this volume imparts a comprehensive understanding of western mythology. With a preface by Alvin Lee, general editor of the Collected Works of Northrop Frye, Biblical and Classical Myths is an essential volume and represents a unique achievement in scholarship.

Contents

Preface to the Combined EditionAbbreviations

Symbolism In The Bible Foreword 1 An Approach to the Bible and Translations of the Bible 2 The Shape of the Bible 3 Images of Paradise: Trees and Water 4 Parody and Manifest Demonic: Trees and Water 5 Sexual Imagery: The Bride and the Bridegroom; The Great Whore and the Forgiven Harlot 6 Pastoral and Agricultural Imagery 7 The World of Angels; Leviathan, Dragons, and the Antichrist 8 Demonic Parodies and the Hero from across the 9 The Double Mirror: Exodus and Gospel 10 The Metaphor of Kingship 11 King, Priest, and Prophet 12 The Question of Primogeniture 13 Genesis: In the Beginning 14 Genesis: Creating the Sexes; Exodus: A Revolutionary Heritage 15 Law: Ordering a Society 16 Law and Revolution; Wisdom: The Proverb 17 Wisdom: Playing before God; Ecclesiastes: Vanity of Vanities 18 Job: A Test 19 Job and the Question of Tragedy 20 Job and Restored Humanity 21 The Language of Proclamation: Style and Rhythm in the Bible; The Gospel: Rewriting the Commandments 22 Revelation: Removing the Veil 23 Revelation: After the Ego Disappears 24 The Language of Love Maps Note on the Illustrations Notes The Bible and Further Readings

Four Ages: The Classical Myths Foreword Introduction

1 In The Beginning The Creation The Golden Age War in Heaven The Reign of Zeus Prometheus Pandora's Box Deucalion's Flood Phaëthon

4 The Heroes Perseus The Labours of Heracles Jason and the Golden Fleece Bellerophon and Pegasus Theseus

5 The Royal House of Thebes The Children of Agenor Zeus and Semele Ino and Athamas Pentheus Actaeon Oedipus

6 The Tale of Troy The Apple of Discord The War The Fall of the City The Returns The Return of Menelaus The Return of Agamemnon The Return of Aeneas The Return of Odysseus

7 Cupid and Psyche

8 Conclusion: The Passing and Afterlife of the Gods

Family Trees Family Tree of the Olympians Family Tree of the Royal House of Thebes Mythology–History Chart Maps The Greek World The Mediterranean World Sources of Quotations Note on the Illustrations Note on Classical Names Notes Suggestions for Further ReadingBiblical IndexesIndex of Classical Mythology